GOLDEN, Colo. – Fort Hays State took the first game of a four-game series at Colorado Mines on Friday (Feb. 19) behind a complete-game effort from pitcher D.J. Carr. FHSU won 10-3, moving to 5-3 overall on the season.
Carr became the first Tiger to throw a complete game since March 21, 2013 when Tayler Davis accomplished the feat in a win over Pittsburg State. Carr threw 112 pitches and struck out seven while scattering nine hits with no walks.
FHSU had a great start to the game, plating four runs in the first. After loading the bases, Joe Mapes grounded into a double play that got the first run across. Connor Ross then singled home a run and Alex Weiss hit a two-run home run.
That was enough for Carr, who allowed just three runs over the nine innings. He allowed one run in the fourth and two in the fifth, but FHSU never trailed. He moved to 1-1 on the year with the win.
With a two-RBI single in the sixth, FHSU tacked on two more runs to make it 6-3. Caleb Cherryholmes had a solo home run in the eighth and Nick Hammeke and Mapes each drove in runs in the ninth as the lead swelled to 10-3. Carr finished strong, allowing just two baserunners over the final three innings.
Ross had a four-hit afternoon, nearly perfect going 4-for-5 at the dish with the three RBI. Cherryholmes, Weiss, and Alex King all had three hits in the game, helping the Tigers pound out 19 as a team.
Christian Rooney took the loss on the mound for the Orediggers who went just 3.1 innings with four runs allowed.
The Tigers and Orediggers play a doubleheader on Saturday (Feb. 20) starting at 12 pm MT/1 pm CT.